Decades After Infamous Murder, Broderick Children Remain Divided

In November 2025, it has been over 36 years since the infamous murder committed by California socialite Betty Broderick. In 1989, Broderick shot and killed her ex-husband Dan and his new wife Linda Kolkena, an act that shocked the nation.

Though the courts made their decision about Broderick's crimes in 1991, her four children - Kimberly, Lee, Dan Jr., and Rhett - continue to be divided on their mother's punishment. While some, like Rhett, believe Broderick "isn't a danger to society" and should be released, others like Dan Jr. argue that "releasing a lost person into society could be a dangerous mistake."

The Broderick family's tumultuous history has been well-documented over the years. In 2014, daughter Kim published a memoir titled "Betty Broderick, My Mom: The Kim Broderick Story," which detailed how the siblings navigated the aftermath of the tragic incident. Kim has recalled her parents' constant fighting, with her mother often becoming "weird" and "mad at Dad all the time."

After Dan left the family in 1985, he gained sole custody of the children, a decision that deeply impacted the family dynamic. The siblings have largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years, though Kim's book provided a rare glimpse into their experiences.

As Betty Broderick remains incarcerated, with her next parole hearing scheduled for 2032, her children continue to grapple with the lasting effects of the tragedy that tore their family apart decades ago.